WestJet Scraps Nuts

There’s good news this summer for the traveling nut allergic. WestJet has stopped selling cashews on its flights and is not offering any peanut or nut products aboard its aircraft. “This has been a tremendous move on the part of WestJet,” says Yvonne Rousseau of the Allergy/Asthma Information Association in British Columbia, who had discussions with the airline over its food allergy policy.

WestJet, however, remains cautious in what it tells passengers. “It should be noted that we cannot confirm all of our snacks are free of trace amounts of peanut or nut products,” a WestJet spokesperson told Allergic Living. While WestJet won’t serve any nuts or peanuts, other travellers are free to bring them on board.

Still, an optimistic Rousseau is asking people to contact the airline: “We need to encourage WestJet to keep the policy, and let them know the positive impact it has. And maybe other airlines will follow suit.” To provide feedback, write to Lorne MacKenzie, lmackenzie@westjet.com.

First published in Allergic Living magazine, Summer 2008
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